AT THE CROSSROADS? Cultural Leadership in the 21st Century PROGRAMME www.artsummit.org Note: The Summit programme may be subject to late changes. Accurate programme and speaker information is available at www.artsummit.org 1 CONTENTS Message from the 2 Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Malta Welcome from 3 Arts Council Malta Welcome from 4 International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies Message from the 5 Programme Director Programme & Cultural Programme Tuesday 18 October 6 Wednesday 19 October 9 Thursday 20 October 16 Friday 21 October 23 General & Practical Information 27 1 Message from Owen Bonnici Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Currently we are living through an exciting time for Maltese culture. Throughout the years, Malta has been developing the cultural sector through several initiatives, improving the final cultural product. Thus, it is with great pleasure that Malta will be hosting the 7th World Summit on Arts and Culture. This summit will place Malta at the forefront of discussions amongst world leading policy makers, researchers, managers and practitioners from the arts and culture sector who will discuss challenges in the cultural sector, developing them into artistic opportunities. The aim is to tackle several aspects of the sector from participation to its legislation and financing. This will lead to better interaction and collaboration among artists while enhancing civil society. At the same time, it also an appeal to governments to give culture the importance it deserves as a crucial aspect in our society. 2 3 Welcome from Arts Council Malta On behalf of Arts Council Malta, we welcome you to the 7th World Summit on Arts and Culture, which will be held in our historic capital city, Valletta. After months of preparation together with our co-hosts IFACCA, we look forward to welcoming government and cultural leaders from over 70 countries to explore ‘Cultural Leadership in the 21st Century’. Past and present, international and local – all come together in Valletta, a UNESCO world heritage city which, with its striking contrasts and layers of history, will provide a rich backdrop to the longest running international gathering of professionals and practitioners in the sector. For three days, participants will debate, inspire and challenge each other on the key issues running through the arts today, exploring the Summit’s central question ‘At the Crossroads? Cultural Leadership in the 21st Century’. As co-hosts, we are thrilled that this important international dialogue will be held in a city which – like the Summit itself – is fully cognizant of the fact that sometimes the most meaningful intersections and connections are created on junctions at the crossroads. Albert Marshall Executive Chair Arts Council Malta Annabelle Stivala Chair Local Committee of the 7th World Summit on Arts and Culture 3 Welcome from the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies Welcome to the 7th World Summit on Arts and Culture on behalf of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). The Federation’s vision is a world in which arts and culture thrive and are recognised for their contribution to society; and we are committed to ensuring that the Summit is a rich opportunity for the sector to gather and work towards its realisation. Bringing together national arts councils, ministries of culture, policy makers, artists, researchers and community leaders from around the world, the Summit creates a unique space in which we can exchange ideas and identify strategies to strengthen the sector at national and global levels. The theme of the Summit, ‘At the crossroads? Cultural Leadership in the 21st Century’, reflects a growing interest in leadership and the need to question our future directions, and the importance of addressing these issues together cannot be underestimated. We believe that the discussions that take place over the coming days will lead to a deeper understanding of our individual roles in leading the sector and the local and international contexts in which we all work; the peer connections we make will no doubt lead to new inspiration, ideas, relationships and collaborations that can help us enact the possibilities that arise. The 7th World Summit would not be possible without the tireless efforts and generous support of Arts Council Malta and we warmly thank and congratulate them, as well as Programme Director, Nina Obuljen, both personally and on behalf of our members worldwide. We would also like to thank you for attending: it is your knowledge, commitment and contribution to discussions and the ensuing pursuit of our joint ambitions that makes the Summit such a unique and rewarding forum. Stephen Wainwright Chair IFACCA and CEO Creative New Zealand Sarah Gardner Executive Director IFACCA 4 5 Welcome from the International Federation The arts and culture can be considered to be at a crossroads – faced with many challenges and opportunities at global, national Cultural of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies and local levels such as: the impact of new technologies on the production and distribution of cultural goods and services; threats Leadership to global security; new patterns of migration; changing contexts at the national level including austerity measures and continuous in the requests for reform; aspirations from artists and culture operators 21st to extend their impact and outreach to other sectors, while also struggling to guarantee freedom of expression and ensure Century cultural diversity. Cultural leadership which understands and takes into account the changing realities of today’s world becomes fundamental for ensuring that the arts and culture are seen as pillars of social development in the 21st century. Today, leaders can no longer be identified solely by their positions in political or governance structures and hierarchies, but rather by their ability to articulate a vision and bring about change. It is crucial to affirm the role of artists, leaders of networks and advocacy groups or professional organisations – whether at the local or international level – to maximise the range of stakeholders involved in actively debating and proposing solutions for the contemporary challenges of the sector. Diverse communication channels, social media in particular, create an environment where cultural leaders can reach their peers, networks and professional organisations, audiences, decision-makers and general public more easily than ever, at unprecedented speed. In a time when the idea of participatory governance is fostered and promoted, no decision can be taken without the involvement of multiple stakeholders. Over the coming days, we invite you to take part in exciting and stimulating debates, and to contribute actively to a collective reflection on the future of cultural leadership, as we focus on a number of questions, such as: Who are the key players? What are the big issues? How are decisions being made and by whom? What does the concept of leadership represent for different cultures, and how do we address the needs and expectations of future generations? As Programme Director of the 7th World Summit on Arts and Culture, I am grateful for the opportunity to work together with IFACCA and our hosts Arts Council Malta in preparing the conference. It is particularly appropriate for us to gather in Malta, a country situated at the heart of the Mediterranean, always found at the crossroads, where cultures have been meeting and interacting throughout history. As a Croatian national I have been overwhelmed by Maltese hospitality and I sincerely hope that all Summit participants will be able to grasp and discover the unique Nina Obuljen spirit and culture of Malta. Programme Director 5 1DAY TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER Registration 8.00 – 20.00 Grand Hotel Excelsior Delegates must register and pick up their delegate pack from the Excelsior Hotel. Late registration will take place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre on Wednesday 19 October 8.00 – 8.50. An invitation is required to attend the Opening Ceremony. Transfer to Opening Ceremony 18.30 Pickup from Vivaldi Hotel to Fort St Elmo 18.45 Pickup from Bayview Hotel & Excelsior Hotel to Fort St Elmo 6 7 Opening Ceremony 19.30 Fort St Elmo The opening ceremony will commence with welcoming remarks from Hon. Owen Bonnici, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government; Albert Marshall, Executive Chair of Arts Council Malta; and Stephen Wainwright, Chair of IFACCA. The Maltese islands are a kaleidoscpe of vibrant colours – like the deep and crystal blues of the sea, the fireworks which light up the night sky in the hot, summer months and the brightly coloured floats on parade during carnival; an ensemble of sounds – like the marches of village brass bands during festas; and a mixture of aromas – from the scent of thyme and fennel carpeting the garigue landscape in spring, to the mouthwatering smell of freshly-baked bread. Delegates will savour the essence of local flavours during their stay: the gastronomic programme includes key local dishes and traditional sweets, grouped according to villages where such dishes are popular – such as Qormi, known for the production of bread and Marsaxlokk, a popular fishing village. 7 NAFRA Folk Ensemble D.O.K. The NAFRA Folk Ensemble is a major international The underlying main element in D.O.K. is the exponent of Malta’s musical heritage. Composer creation of an all Maltese work, rooted in Maltese Ruben Zahra is commited to the revival of artistic legacy and projected in a contemporary traditional Maltese instruments, particularly manner. D.O.K. is an alliance between Maltese the Maltese bagpipe – iż-żaqq. He established artists. It is conceived by choreographer the NAFRA Folk Ensemble portraying a versatile Dorian Mallia, Artistic Director of Moveo Dance programme of Mediterranean folk-fusion Company, and inspired by Maltese folk music. embellished by the unique sonority of Maltese Another important element in D.O.K. is a traditional instruments.